Method using a set-top box communicating between a remote data network and a wireless communication network

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are methods and systems for connecting a set-top box (STB) to the Internet over existing and future wireless networks, combining television with wireless Internet access. A conventional television is used in combination with a STB that has a wireless or wired keyboard, a power supply, and audio/visual connections for connecting the STB to the television. In an embodiment, a wireless telephone is placed in a docking station on top of the STB, providing the user with both data (when docked) and voice capabilities (when being used simply for telephone calls). CDMA, CDPD, or other wireless technologies may used for connection to the Internet.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/269,608, filed Oct. 11, 2002, which is incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to the field of wireless datatransmission and reception. The invention particularly relates to a datatransmission and reception system including systems and methods forusing a wireless telephone to receive and transmit packet signals via awireless or cellular network for display on a standard television usinga set-top box.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, the use of wireless communications devices has greatlyincreased around the world. Specifically, the use of wireless telephoneshas become commonplace such that many users, or subscribers, to wirelessservices use wireless telephones with regularity. The coverage area of awireless telecommunications network such as a cellular network includingcellular mobile telephones is divided into smaller coverage areas called“cells” using low power transmitters and coverage-restricted receivers.As is well known in the art, the limited coverage area enables the radiochannels used in one cell to be reused in another cell. In a typicalcellular telecommunications network, as a mobile cellular telephonewithin one cell moves across the boundary of the cell into an adjacentcell, control circuitry associated with the cell detects that the signalstrength of the telephone in the adjacent cell is stronger andcommunications with the mobile cellular telephone are “handed off” tothe adjacent cell.

While the technology for Internet access via wireline or landlinetelephone systems is well established, the technology for Internetaccess for wireless users is now emerging. There are several standardsfor wireless service including, but not limited to, Advanced MobilePhone Service (AMPS), Digital Advanced Mobile Phone Service (DAMPS),Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), General Packet RadioService (GPRS), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA, early versionsbeing described in standards document IS-95 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,901,307and 5,103,459 to Gilhousen et al., each being incorporated herein byreference), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA, described in standardsdocument IS-136, incorporated herein by reference), 80211.a and 80211.b,and Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD, described in CDPD Specification,Version 1.1 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,805,997 to Farris, each beingincorporated herein by reference). In accordance with these wirelesstechnologies, a wireless user transmits data to a mobile switchingcenter (MSC). The MSC provides connectivity to the public switchedtelephone network (PSTN), certain multiplexing and control functions,and switching functions for wireless users. Multiplexed digital datafrom a plurality of remote wireless users is then capable of beingtransmitted via communication elements in the PSTN. In futuretechnologies, the wireless data will be directed to the General DataService Node, such as the Packet Data Service Node in CDMA, as opposedto routing to the MSC.

The high cost of computers and Internet access devices has created abarrier to entry for many consumers around the world. As an example,there has been very little penetration of Internet access devices in theLatin American market. However, Latin America has a very highpenetration of televisions due to the popularity of soap operas andsports and the relative expense of television sets. With the largepenetration and wide distribution of TVs in Latin America, it is logicalto couple an affordable Internet access device with television.

Existing products include set-top boxes (STBs) that provide Internetaccess via the local telephone or cable television line and use a TV asa monitor. A STB is designed to produce output on a conventionaltelevision set and connect to some other communications channels such astelephone, ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), optical fiber, orcable. A router is a device which forwards packets between networks,based on network layer information and routing tables, often constructedby routing protocols. These products have no hard drives and limited RAM(Random Access Memory) capacity.

One of the most appealing features of a STB is in-home Internet access.The STB platform offers a convenient, affordable tool for accessing webpages, chatting, and e-mail. The newest and most expensive models ofSTBs include such things as 3-D games, on-demand video and musiccapabilities, DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) drives, VCD (Video CompactDisc) karaoke music, and digital cameras. In the Internet realm, a STBis, in effect, a specialized computer that can “talk to” theInternet—that is, it contains a web browser (which is really a HTTP(Hypertext Transfer Protocol) client) and the Internet's main program,TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol). STBs aremanufactured by Philips, Daewoo, Netgem, Neon Technology, ParadiseInnovations, and many other companies well known to those skilled in theart. STBs generally include numerous jacks and ports for audio, video,power, telephone, TV antenna, cable, and many other connections. STBstypically also come with remote wireless keyboards, and they do notnecessarily have to be cable or satellite boxes.

However, one problem with Internet access using existing STBs is theunreliability of landline telephone service in many areas. Landlinetelephone service may not even be available in many rural areas inpoorer parts of the world. However, there are existing wirelesstelecommunication networks in many of these same areas. In Latin Americafor example, existing wireless telecommunication networks are heavilyused in cities but used sporadically in rural and suburban areas. Theserural and suburban areas also have poor landline service if any at all.

Thus, there is a need for a system that provides Internet access toareas where landline telephone networks do not exist or are unreliable.There is also a need for a system that provides Internet access withoutthe necessity, and expense, of a desktop or laptop personal computer,but that also allows for display of information via a conventionaltelevision set.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention satisfies the above-described needs by providingmethods and systems for connecting a set-top box (STB) to the Internetover existing and future wireless networks, combining television withwireless Internet access. In an exemplary environment, a conventionaltelevision is used in combination with a STB that has a wireless orwired keyboard, a power supply, and audio/visual connections forconnecting the STB to the television. In one or this embodiment, awireless telephone may be placed in a docking station on top of the STB,providing the user with both data (when docked) and voice capabilities(when being used simply for telephone calls).

In an exemplary embodiment, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) is usedas the wireless means for connection, which is made over existingwireless telecommunications networks. CDMA should be understood toinclude the version originally described in standards document IS-95 aswell as later generations of CDMA technology including, but not limitedto, cdmaOne, CDMA2000, CDMA2000 1x, CDMA 1xEV, CDMA 1xRTT, CDMA 1xEV-DO,CDMA 1xEV-DV, and Wideband CDMA (W-CDMA). CDMA2000 1x functions at apeak packet speed of up to 307 Kbps and allows for both heavy (e.g.,downloading large documents, running complex applications) and light(e.g., simple e-mail, light browsing) Internet use. In another exemplaryembodiment, Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) is used as the wirelessmeans for connection, which is made over existing wirelesstelecommunications networks. CDPD functions at a peak packet speed of19.2 Kbps and allows for light browsing, e-mail, and chatting services.Further embodiments may use means for wireless connection other thanCDMA and CDPD, such as TDMA, GPRS, 8021.b, or 80211.a.

In an exemplary embodiment, the STB includes two boards, a video boardand a modem board. The STB may be a standard unit similar to any of theSTBs being currently manufactured as discussed above, except that theSTB is designed or modified to support the interface between a wirelesstelephone and the video board rather than or in addition to supportingonly a landline connection. An embodiment for both voice and data accessmay include a docking station connected to or atop the STB such that awireless telephone could be used to make phone calls when not being usedfor Internet access. In embodiments for data access alone, PCMCIA(Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) cards (or PCcards) may be used, allowing for exchange of these cards to upgrade thedevice as second, third, and later generation technologies areimplemented to increase transmission speed. The PCMCIA card used forcommunications is a wireless modem, but the card is not limited to awireless modem and may include games, a landline modem, or otherfeatures. The PCMCIA card is useful because it allows a consumer toremove and replace the card if the STB malfunctions or needs repairrather than having to open up the STB.

Advantages of the present invention include the ability to provideInternet services in areas where local landline telephone service doesnot exist or exists but is not of a quality to permit reliable Internetusage and the provision of Internet access such that information can bedisplayed on an existing television, rather than requiring the purchaseof a personal computer or monitor or having a very small or no displayat all. These and other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention may be more clearly understood and appreciated from a reviewof the following detailed description of the disclosed embodiments andby reference to the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless network in which a wireless communicationsdevice operating in accordance with the present invention may be used.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment operating in anexemplary environment in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description utilizes a number of acronyms whichare generally well known in the art. While definitions are typicallyprovided with the first instance of each acronym, for convenience, Table1 below provides a list of the acronyms and their respectivedefinitions. TABLE 1 ACRONYM DEFINITION 3G Third Generation AMPSAdvanced Mobile Phone Service CDMA Code Division Multiple Access CDPDCellular Digital Packet Data CLNP Connectionless Network Protocol CSCCentral Site Controller DAMPS Digital Advanced Mobile Phone Service DSMADigital Sense Multiple Access DVD Digital Versatile Disc GSM GlobalSystem for Mobile Communications GPRS General Packet Radio Service HTTPHypertext Transfer Protocol ICS Intelligent Cell Site ISDN IntegratedServices Digital Network ITU International Telecommunications Union MCMulti-Carrier MSC Mobile Switching Center OSI Open SystemInterconnection PC Personal Computer PCMCIA Personal Computer MemoryCard International Association PCS Personal Communication Service PPPPoint-to-Point Protocol PSTN Public Switched Telephone Network RAMRandom Access Memory RF Radio Frequency STB Set-Top Box TCP/IPTransmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol TDMA Time DivisionMultiple Access TV Television VCD Video Compact Disc W-CDMA WidebandCode Division Multiple Access WAN Wide Area Network

FIG. 1 shows the components of an exemplary wireless system 10 for useaccording to exemplary embodiments of systems and methods of the presentinvention. Wireless system 10 may include, for instance, a MSC 24,multiple individual cells 30 and 32, and any other components necessaryfor operating wireless system 10. Typically, a plurality of such cells30 and 32 are provided within the service area of wireless system 10.Each of cells 30 and 32 could comprise a “microcell,” in which casecells 30 and 32 could be part of a “Personal Communications System”(PCS) or other similar system. Within each cell is located a transmitterthat, after receiving the subscriber's signal, communicates (normallyvia microwave, the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), or datalines) with an intermediate controller, which in turn communicates withMSC 24. Alternatively, cells 30 and 32 may communicate directly to MSC24. As understood by those skilled in the art, MSC 24 may be eliminatedif the network is a wireless digital network. In that event, acontroller 20 would be coupled to the Central Site Controller (“CSC”)within the wireless digital network. The CSC would couple to IntelligentCellsites (“ICSs”) at cells 30 and 32 via ISDN links. The ICSs wouldthen communicate with a wireless telephone 34.

In any event, cells 30 and 32 are provided with a base station havingRadio Frequency (RF) equipment that generally converts the controlmessages and voice or data signals from the subscriber to a protocol MSC24 understands. The RF equipment communicates with, for instance, awireless telephone 34 using any one of the well known cellular networkformats, including CDMA, TDMA, CDPD, GSM, GPRS, AMPS, DAMPS, DCS 1800,JTACS, TACS, ETACS, RC 2000, NMT 450, ESMR, CT-2, WACS, or NMT 900, orany other applicable format. Generally, therefore, the RF equipment cancommunicate with any device having control and communication radiochannels.

Coupled to wireless system 10 is a controller 20 that may be a computersystem (including a workstation or PC), a microprocessor, or even anoperations center staffed with appropriate personnel. A firstcommunications link 22, which may be a land line through the PSTN or adirect connection to MSC 24, couples controller 20 to MSC 24, whichconnects to cells 30 and 32, respectively, via second communicationlinks 26 and 28 that may be dedicated lines or microwave links.Optionally, first communications link 22 terminates at a dedicatedroamer access port 23.

Wireless telephone 34 may be any wireless or cellular communicationsdevice that includes a data receiver 35, a processor 37, and a memoryunit 39. A transmitter 38 allows wireless telephone 34 to communicatevoice or data to cells 30 and 32. Data receiver 35 receives data orprogramming instructions via a selected radio frequency such as awireless control channel. A data receiver is standard equipment in allmodern wireless telephones. Processor 37, which is coupled to datareceiver 35 and memory unit 39, controls their respective operations tocause data receiver 35 periodically, at a pre-selected time or oncommand, to scan the control channel. Processor 37 is preferably amicroprocessor-based control system that can be programmed to conductcontrol operations in a known manner. Those skilled in the art willrecognize that the wireless telephone may be any of a wide variety ofwireless personal communication devices, including personalcommunicators and personal digital assistants (PDAs) which have wirelesscommunications capabilities.

Several embodiments of the present invention utilize CDMA as thewireless means of connection, while other embodiments utilize CDPD wherethe CDPD system constitutes an overlay system vis-à-vis an associatedcellular telephone system. These embodiments are described herein asexemplary embodiments of the present invention. A brief discussion ofCDMA and CDPD technology is provided below for the reader's reference,but it should be understood that other wireless communications formats,such as any of those mentioned above (including both presently existingand future versions), may also be used in accordance with methods andsystems of the present invention.

CDMA was first developed by Qualcomm® Incorporated of San Diego, Calif.,U.S.A. As used herein, CDMA is a generic term that describes a wirelessair interface based on code division multiple access technology and, asindicated above, should be understood to include IS-95A, IS-95B,cdmaOne™, CDMA2000, CDMA2000 1x, CDMA 1xEV, CDMA 1xRTT, CDMA 1xEV-DO,CDMA 1xEV-DV, W-CDMA, and future CDMA technologies. CDMA technology iswell understood by those skilled in the art. For more information thanis provided below, the reader is referred to standards document IS-95and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,901,307 and 5,103,459 to Gilhousen et al.

The first CDMA networks were commercially launched in 1995. CDMA appliesspread spectrum techniques to a multiple access system with each userbeing separated from every other user by a unique digital code (thereare approximately 4.4 trillion codes). There are two spread spectrumtechniques, frequency hopped and direct sequence. Regardless of thetechnique used, the technology breaks up speech and data into small,digitized segments and encodes each of them. A large number of users canthus share the same band of spectrum and greatly increase systemcapacity. In other words, CDMA allows wireless service providers tosqueeze more digital signals into a particular slice of the radionetwork.

CDMA has become the fastest-growing of all wireless technologies, withover 100 million subscribers worldwide. In 1999, the InternationalTelecommunications Union (ITU) adopted an industry standard forthird-generation (3G) wireless systems that can deliver high-speed dataand other new features. CDMA2000 was sanctioned along with four otherterrestrial IMT-2000 standards. CDMA2000 1x and CDMA 1xEV (including1xEV-DO and 1xEV-DV) are part of what the ITU has termed IMT-2000 CDMAMulti-Carrier (MC). For further information, the reader is referred to<www.imt-2000.org>. CDMA2000 1x doubles the voice capacity of cdmaOnenetworks and delivers packet data speeds of 153 kbps (release 0) and 307kbps (release 1) in mobile environments. CDMA2000 1xEV-DO and CDMA20001xEV-DV provide data-optimized channels, offering data rates well inexcess of 2 Mbps.

CDMA2000 is designed to operate in all existing allocated spectrums forwireless telecommunications, including analog, cellular, PCS, andIMT-2000 bands. CDMA2000 delivers 3G services while occupying a smallamount of spectrum, 1.25 MHz per carrier. CDMA2000 supports the secondgeneration network aspect of all existing operators regardless oftechnology (cdmaOne, IS-136 TDMA, or GSM). CDMA2000 spectrum bandsinclude 450, 700, 800, 900, 1700, 1800, 1900, and 2100 MHz. Over 100CDMA2000 1x and now CDMA2000 1xEV-DO terminals are currently availablefrom vendors including Audiovox, Ericsson, Kyocera, LG Electronics,Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, and Sanyo. In addition to wireless phones,wireless modem products are available from AirPrime, AnyDATA, GTRAN,Novatel Wireless, Sierra Wireless, and others.

CDPD is an overlay system that enables wireless transmission of dataover existing cellular systems, such as those discussed above (AMPS,DAMPS, CDMA, TDMA, GSM, etc.). The CDPD system is designed to providedata communications in the cellular frequency range without impedingvoice communications. CDPD networks first appeared in the mid-1990s, andtoday they are available in most large cities. CDPD is cost effectivebecause it builds on top of existing cellular infrastructure and doesnot require any additional spectrum allocation. Instead of requiringadditional frequencies for data communications, CDPD uses temporal“gaps” that occur between voice calls to send data in bursts. CDPDtechnology is well understood by those skilled in the art. For moreinformation than is provided below, the reader is referred to CDPDSpecification, Version 1.1 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,805,997 to Farris.

The system uses “mobile” telephone channels just as a modem uses atelephone line but it is designed to jump from one frequency to anotherwhen necessary, i.e., when a new telephone call starts in the cell.Technology has been developed to “frequency hop” and seek out gaps incellular conversations in the cellular spectrum. The frequency-hoppingtechnology is sufficiently robust to handle the designed data transferrate (19.2 Kbps) in crowded cellular markets. In addition, new personalwireless communications products have been, and are being, designed toemploy CDPD technology in combining all-purpose mobile communicationswith the technology of cellular phones, fax machines, modems, electronicmail, and pen computing. Because CDPD is an open specification thatadheres to the layered structure of the Open Systems Interconnection(OSI) model, which is well understood by those skilled in the art, ithas the ability to be extended in the future. CDPD supports both theInternet's TCP/IP format and the ISO Connectionless Network Protocol(CLNP).

With CDPD, a computer interfaces to a network such as the Internet in amanner very similar to using a regular landline connection, except amodem that speaks in the CDPD language is used. A number of companiesmanufacture cellular data modems, including, for example, Mitsubishi,Motorola, Novatel, and other companies that were mentioned above. Forthe mobile user, CDPD's support for packet switching means that apersistent link is not needed. The same broadcast channel can be sharedamong a number of users at the same time. The user's modem recognizesthe packets intended for its user. As data such as e-mail arrives, it isforwarded immediately to the user without a circuit connection having tobe established.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an exemplary system for wireless Internetaccess where information is to be displayed on a conventional televisionusing a STB is shown. A television 100 is connected to a STB 102 via oneor more connectors 104, including, for example, a coaxial cable, leftand right audio wires, S-video cable, video cable, or other audio and/orvideo cables. STB 102 contains a video board 106. Video board 106includes a microprocessor 108, a television interface 110, and numerousother components. Video board 106 may generally be any of a number ofstandard video boards currently manufactured and used in STBs, such asthose manufactured by the companies discussed in the Background sectionof this specification or others. Thus, a further discussion of videoboard components is not necessary with regard to the present invention.

A docking station 112 is present in STB 102. Wireless telephone 34 isinserted into docking station 112 for the invention to be operative.When out of docking station 112, wireless telephone 34 may be used as itnormally would for voice communications. Alternatively, STB 102 may havea port for the insertion of a wire or cable that connects a separatedocking station; for example, something similar to a wireless telephonebattery charger that holds the phone and plugs into an electricaloutlet.

As discussed above in conjunction with FIG. 1, wireless telephone 34includes data receiver 35, processor 37, transmitter 38, and memory unit39. In this exemplary embodiment, wireless telephone 34 also includes amodem 40. Modem 40 receives and transmits data packets directly to acellular or wireless system, such as wireless system 10 in FIG. 1. Thewireless system is interfaced with a wide area network (WAN) 11 (seeFIG. 1), such as the Internet via an IN/IP gateway for example.

Internal to STB 102 is a modem board 114. Modem board 114 allows fordata transmissions between wireless telephone 34 and the Internet to beinterfaced with video board 106 via bus 116. This interface furtherspreparation of the data for display on television 100. In an alternateembodiment without a wireless telephone and for data services only, thedocking station may be eliminated and modem 40 may be part of a PCMCIAcard that interfaces directly with modem board 114 inside STB 102.

A power supply 118 is used to power STB 102. It may function throughAC-to-DC conversion from a power outlet or in certain instances becomprised of a battery pack. In an embodiment, STB 102 may be configuredsuch that power supply 118 recharges wireless telephone 34 when thepower supply is active (i.e., plugged in or charged, if a battery pack)and the telephone is docked. A printed wiring board 120 may be includedin STB 102 and is used to control communications between a user and theTV and STB. An example is the use of a wireless keyboard 122, whichcommunicates with board 120 using an infrared signal. A mouse or remotecontrol may also be used in a similar manner if board 120 is soconfigured. Board 120 is technically embodied similar to a browsercircuit used in a landline STB and is well understood by those skilledin the art.

In another exemplary embodiment, a STB originally designed for alandline telephone connection may be modified for a wireless telephoneconnection. In this embodiment, a wireless communications device, whichcontains a wireless modem, is mounted inside the STB as part of themodem board. Alternatively, a PCMCIA card with a wireless modem could beused or another type of wireless modem may be used. An adapter,including a programmable micro-controller chip containing uniquesoftware code that interfaces the modem to the video board, is alsoincluded. The adapter also contains a FIFO chip that interfacesasynchronous data output of the modem to the video board. As an example,the micro-controller chip may employ a 3.6864 MHz crystal as an internaloscillator and provide the correct clock signal to the FIFO chip. Asanother alternative, the battery of the wireless telephone and/orwireless modem may be charged from the +12 volts DC power bus of thevideo board, eliminating the need for an additional power supply.

An exemplary method according to one of the embodiments described in theparagraph above includes an adapter or interfacing agent filtering thedata stream from each of the wireless communications device and the STB.For an embodiment using CDPD as the wireless means of transmission, aportion of the initialization string triggers the wirelesscommunications device to enter CDPD mode. After the initializationstring, the interfacing agent sends a command to the wirelesscommunications device to connect to the network, such as the Internet,in PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) mode. Optionally, the interfacingagent, acting as a dialing protocol converter, may then output theappropriate strings and cause the wireless communications device toenter CDPD mode in addition to connecting the CDPD modem to the network.When the wireless communications device connects to the network, thenetwork responds with a 23 bytes PPP packet that will not be accepted bythe STB. Thus, the interfacing agent filters this packet to suppress it.The interfacing agent checks the data stream after the CONNECT string,and suppresses the next 23 bytes so that they are not passed to the STB.The transmission of data to the STB via the wireless communicationsdevice then proceeds.

From the foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention and operation thereof, other embodiments will suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art. It should be understood that thepresent invention is not limited to the use of wireless telephones butincludes other wireless communications devices that may be used toaccess a wireless network. It should also be understood that means ofwireless data transmission other than CDMA and CDPD, including, forexample, TDMA, 80211.a and 80211.b, and GPRS, are contemplated by thepresent invention.

1. A method for communicating between a remote data network and aset-top box via a wireless communications device with a data modem,comprising: inserting the wireless communications device in a dockingstation of the set-top box before triggering the wireless communicationsdevice to enter a data transmission mode; sending a command instructingthe wireless communications device to connect to the remote data networkin the data transmission mode; upon connecting to the remote datanetwork, receiving from the remote data network a data stream includinga data packet; filtering the data stream responsive to receiving a firststring, to suppress a number of bytes associated with the data packet;and after suppressing the number of bytes associated with the datapacket, transmitting the data stream to the set-top box.
 2. The methodof claim 1, wherein the data packet including the number of bytes is notacceptable to the set-top box, so that filtering the data streamsuppresses the unacceptable bytes of the data packet from transmissionto the set-top box.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the filteringtakes place with respect to the first string of the data packet tosuppress the number of bytes associated with the first string.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the wireless communications device is awireless telephone and the set-top box includes a docking station inwhich the wireless telephone is inserted.
 5. The method of claim 1,further comprising preparing the data stream for display on a televisionset connected to the set-top box.
 6. A system for communicating betweena remote data network and a set-top box over a wireless communicationsnetwork, where the set-top box is connected to a conventional televisionset, comprising: a wireless communications device including a wirelessmodem that receives and transmits data packets directly to the wirelesscommunications network, wherein the wireless communications network isinterfaced with the remote data network via a gateway; and an interfacedevice acting between the wireless communications device and the set-topbox for filtering a data stream between the wireless communicationsdevice and the set-top box to suppress a data string comprising apredetermined number of bytes associated with the data stream andthereafter to transmit the data stream to the set-top box, so as toprevent the suppressed data string from passing to the set-top box. 7.The system of claim 6, wherein the wireless communications device is awireless telephone.
 8. The system of claim 6, wherein the wireless modemis a cellular digital packet data (CDPD) modem.
 9. The system of claim6, wherein the wireless modem is a code division multiple access (CDMA)modem.
 10. The system of claim 6, further comprising a docking stationin the set-top box in which the wireless communications device may beinserted, wherein the wireless communications device may be used forvoice communications when not inserted into the docking station.
 11. Thesystem of claim 6, wherein the interface device filters the first stringof the data packet to suppress the predetermined number of bytesarriving in the first string.
 12. A set-top box for communicating over awireless communications network between a remote data network and aconventional television set connected to the set-top box, the set-topbox comprising: a docking station in which a wireless communicationsdevice may be inserted, wherein the wireless communications device maybe used for voice communications when not inserted into the dockingstation; a wireless modem connected to the docking station for receivingand transmitting data packets between the wireless communicationsnetwork and a wireless communications device in the docking station; avideo board; and an interface device associated with the docking stationand comprising a programmable micro-controller chip configured tointerface the wireless modem to the video board, the interface deviceanalyzing the data stream after receiving a first string of the datastream to suppress a predetermined number of bytes associated with thefirst string, thereby filtering the data stream between a wirelesscommunications device in the docking station and the set-top box tosuppress the predetermined number of bytes after receiving a first datastring associated with the data stream.
 13. The system of claim 12,wherein the wireless modem is a code division multiple access (CDMA)modem.
 14. The system of claim 12, wherein the wireless modem is acellular digital packet data (CDPD) modem.